(SportsNetwork.com) - The New York Mets aim to push their winning streak to 10 straight games on Wednesday night when they continue a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves.
The Mets moved to 8-0 at home with last night's 7-1 victory that was keyed by Curtis Granderson's three hits and four RBI. He came into the game hitting just .146.
Juan Lagares drove in a pair of runs while Eric Campbell, Kevin Plawecki and Wilmer Flores each scored twice for the Mets, who are on their longest winning streak since a 10-game run from July 5-17, 2008. Plawecki had two hits in his major league debut, taking over behind the plate for the injured Travis d'Arnaud.
Jon Niese gave up just one run on four hits with four walks and five strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings to pick up the win.
"It's big because every game is important over 162," said Niese. "It's good to get off to a good start, especially this month when we're playing all the teams in our division."
New York's nine-game win streak began when it salvaged the finale of a three- game set in Atlanta on April 12.
Cameron Maybin's solo home run accounted for all the offense for the Braves, who have lost four of their last six. Trevor Cahill was tagged for four runs -- three earned -- on five hits with a walk in four-plus innings.
The Braves held the Mets scoreless until the top of the fifth, when New York got its first three batters on base. Niese then hit a grounder to second that Phil Gosselin misplayed for an error, leaving the bags loaded and scoring a run. Granderson followed with a two-run single to right and Lagares then hit a single up the middle for a 4-0 lead.
"We didn't make a play there on that double play ball and things got away from us really quickly in that inning," said Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez.
Though still riding an impressive streak, the Mets' Dillon Gee tries again for his first victory of the season tonight.
Gee was drilled for five runs over five innings of a loss in Atlanta on April 11, falling to 6-5 with a 3.13 earned run average in 15 career meetings.
The 28-year-old righty then yielded four runs on five hits, two homers and a pair of walks over 5 2/3 frames of a no-decision versus Miami on Thursday. Gee struck out seven and also posted his 48th straight start of at least five innings pitched.
That run is the longest active such streak in the majors and two shy of Doc Gooden's club record.
Eric Stults will look to go deep into his third start of the season tonight for the Braves.
The 35-year-old lefty turned in his second straight five-inning outing when he lost to Miami on Wednesday, charged with four runs on five hits and two walks.
"Obviously the results weren't there," said Stults. "I felt like just a couple pitches up in the zone, ... Overall, I feel good. It's a long season."
That outing came five days after a no-decision versus the visiting Mets, who got him for three runs on seven hits. David Wright and John Mayberry both homered off of Stults, but the Braves still won 5-3.
Stults is 3-1 with a 2.87 ERA in seven games versus the Mets.
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